The decision, made during mid-term budget talks, is part of a broader plan to establish a direct rail connection from Kemi to the port of Narvik in Norway. The Finnish government has approved initial planning for a new rail link between Kemi and Haparanda on the Swedish border, The Barents Observer reports.
The first phase will involve constructing a 30 km railway with the European standard gauge of 1,435 mm between Kemi, Tornio, and Haparanda. Current Finnish tracks use a 1,524 mm gauge, commonly known as the "Russian gauge," which prevents seamless cross-border operations with Sweden.
The government has allocated EUR 20 million to fund studies for the project. Longer-term plans include extending standard gauge tracks to Oulu and to Misi near Rovaniemi, close to military infrastructure facilities.
